Mazza, Sandy. “Ocean Activists, Fishers and Scientists Differ on Heavy Anchovy Declines.” Ocean Activists, Fishers and Scientists Differ on Heavy Anchovy Declines. Daily Breeze, 19 Nov. 2015. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

This article considers the declining sardine population in regards to the rest of the ecosystem, specifically in Monterey. Through statistics, quotes, and real world examples, this article examines the drawbacks our extreme overfishing has.

The practices of overfishing in other countries are being felt all the way in California. The diminished sardine population is proving to be devastating to the ecosystem. Top predators are starving, and are putting the balance out of whack. Fishing quotas are also now much lower than usual, which makes food for us more scarce. It also is heartwarming to see grpups like Oceana doing the work that they are.

Ushkowitz, Jenna. “We Must Save Ocean Wildlife Before It Is Too Late.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

This article examines the effects overfishing has on the food web. Beginning with an anecdote about a starving sea lion off the coast of Santa Barbara, the author explains how the decline of sardine populations from overfishing is causing a region-wide famine.

The once abundant sardine population, which sea mammals and fish alike eat almost exclusively, have dwindled to nearly gone in recent years. As detailed in the article, many of the regulations put in place by the government is either faulty or easily evaded. If fishery managers implement these changes and regulations better, sardine populations will recover. Recently, the sardine season was cut very short to accommodate the dropping populations. If we continue this course of action, we can help remedy these damages we have made to the ecosystem. But other countries need to comply, and the article blames China as the main culprit.

Khan, Rabab. “Fish Population Reduced by Half.” Fish Population Reduced by Half. GulfNews, 2 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

This article considers the effect that overfishing is having on the populations of top predators. The article states that 1 in 4 shark or ray species is threatened with extinction. It also talks about the declining populations of porpoises in the California Gulf and miscellaneous shark populations off California’s coasts.

This article shows the ecological impact of overfishing. If all the prey for these predators are diminished, predator populations will decline. As shown by the situation in Yellowstone with the elk and wolves, disruptions to predator and prey populations can have harrowing effects on things from tree growth to river flow. The article argues that overfishing isn’t the biggest cause of these extinctions and declining populations, but it is the only one the we have the power to control universally.

Isakowitz, Lucas. “What Are the Fish Telling Us.” What Are the Fish Telling Us. Fusion, Oct. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

This interactive webpage uses Pacific salmon, specifically in California, to convey to the readers that overfishing is as bad as it has ever been. The webpage includes videos, charts and graphs, interactive illustrations, and coherent analysis of those listed before. It’s main focus is to shine light on the amount of farmed salmon we eat.

Again, as an angler affected by shorter salmon seasons and regulations, this webpage applies to me. This page puts a lot of emphasis on the fact that we have really destroyed the lifestyle and populations of wild salmon everywhere except Alaska. Especially in California, as explained by the article, damming has made salmon spawning almost impossible. It also describes the effect overfishing has had on our diets. Farmed salmon, generally, is less healthy for humans and contains more fat than wild caught salmon. This is directly linked to the overfished populations of wild salmon quickly becoming less abundant. There is upside however, and it goes into thriving populations in Alaska, and the changes they have made that California could theoretically implement.

McClintock, James B. “Still Fishing for Solutions: ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ Approaches Fifty.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 03 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

This article sums up the “Tragedy of the Commons” and its impact on the industrialized, commercial fishermen. The author describes personal experiences, examples of good and bad practices, and provides ideas about how to continue. Finally, he describes the current overfishing issue in California with relations to salmon, crab and sturgeon.

Connecting what we learned about the tragedy of the commons, McClintock compares the overfishing of a small pond in Santa Barbara to overgrazing cattle on public land. Although he uses some out of state examples, like cod fishing in Maine and crabbing in Florida, he refers to the overexploitation of sturgeon in California rivers. As a trophy fisherman, this example applies to me, as sturgeon fishing in California is almost impossible. He brings up some good points about our current systems and adequately explains many countries’ failure to accurately report catch reports to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Also, his reference to the Florida stone crab system offered insight as to what people are doing around the country, and what California could implement.

Wernick, Adam. “Proposed Changes to US Fishing Rules Could Undo Protections against Overfishing.” Public Radio International. PRI, 17 June 2015. Web. 23      . Aug. 2015.

Changes proposed to amend the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens laws, which largely protect the marine resources stateside, may weaken standards and protection to the resources we have already exploited. A director for science at the Union of Concerned Scientists claims that the law placed in 1976 ended the problem of overfishing in the US. There is worry that the new changes to the laws will create  bad cooperation among fisheries councils.

This article paints a picture about the impact that the Magnuson-Stevens laws have on fishery councils and other officials in charge of managing the crisis of overfishing. This article, which is sourced from a radio interview, helps to show just how well these laws are followed, and how bad it would be if these laws were changed. It also includes political insight into the changes.

Hilborn, Ray. “Overfishing: A Bigger Problem than We Think | OUPblog.”OUPblog, Overfishing a Bigger Problem than We Think Comments. Oxford University, 01     . Aug. 2015. Web. 23 Aug. 2015.

Within the next four decades, we may never eat fish again because there won’t be any left. With so many species of fish under constant strain from overfishing, the stock of many species are approaching a point of extinction. Fish are a natural resource, and can therefore be exploited. Where economically there is a profit to be made, there will be a huge increase in the amount of fishing in the area.

This article provides a look at the political and economic implications of overfishing and what our efforts are doing to the political and economic portions of the nation. It also includes an acknowledgement from the 1900s about over fishing, “We have, accordingly, so far as I can see, to face the established fact that the bottom fisheries are not only exhaustible, but in rapid and continuous process of exhaustion; that the rate at which sea fishes multiply and grow, even in favorable seasons, is exceeded by the rate of capture.”

Plumer, Brad. “Just How Badly Are We Overfishing the Oceans?” Washington Post. . . The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2015

The technology that man has created is being used to wage war on the fish in the ocean. The height of fisheries peaked in the 1990’s, and since then some species of sport fish have dropped 90%. One pessimistic view suggests that fish stocks will collapse by the mid century. A study suggests that the United States is leading the charge to quell overfishing. The US has been using limits and caps on how many fish are taken each year.

This article provides charts and statistics on the effect and extent of our overfishing. Overfishing is a serious problem that the US is helping to remedy. However, the populations of fish in the Pacific is much lower than it should be. It also shines light on the two schools of thought that concern this epidemic. And while the US is doing well in their efforts, they arent doing enough. Fish stocks continue to fall, and species like Cod and Hake are not recovering like they were expected to.

Jeff, Kim. “Fishious Cycle.” Ka Leo O Hawaii. Ka Leo, 7 Sept. 2015. Web. 07 Sept.         . 2015.

A new rule proposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service, which would allow commercial fishermen access to international waters to overfish ahi stocks. This sets a bad precedent for other nations- if the US is allowed to overfish, then why not other countries like China, Japan or Korea? Additionally, the rising amounts of CO2 in the oceans is killing off some of the zooplankton, which is seriously damaging the food supply of these fish. In conclusion, in order to help remedy the problem, we must lower the consumption of fish and catch these fish more sustainably.

This article provides facts and dates to show that our fish stocks are dropping to extreme levels. Also, it provides examples and meetings at which things got decided or ideas were agreed upon. Finally, this article clearly and concisely states what’s wrong, what is about to happen, and what we need to do.